Sometimes, Ryan still feels like he's sixteen, sitting in a classroom staring at the marks on Nakoa's arms, trying to figure out the enigma of a young man slumped in the desk next to him. Ten years, they've known each other, and Ryan wonders how much of Nakoa he really knows. Ten years, Ryan's been in love with him, and still, Nakoa's holding his truths hostage. Ryan has his own secrets, though. He lied to Nakoa about the rent, he lied to Jean that he cares about working Pride, and he lies to everyone that he's not in love with Nakoa. He might not know it, but Nakoa's the most important thing to Ryan. Even if it means wanting for more for the rest of his life, Ryan's content to keep things as they are, afraid pushing at all will push Nakoa over the edge completely and he'll never see him again. Nakoa runs from any intimacy Ryan shows him, though, preferring to get wasted, never admitting he feels anything beyond skin-deep. It's not about being selfish; it's about survival.

Featured by Teenfiction, Contemporary Lit and AmbassadorsIN Mariana Martin, an introverted, sarcastic and pessimist girl's diary gets stolen and instead of looking for it, she takes this as a golden opportunity to erase her dark past and leave behind all her horrifying memories. She starts to recollect all the moments which warmed her bitter soul and she's mildly surprised that nearly all of them has her childhood ex-best friend in it, Isaac Connor. He's a big-hearted boy with unruly hair who is persistent on rekindling their friendship and perhaps something more which she 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 doesn't want . . . But the tormenting past always catches up to her in the form of her next-door neighbour who can't take his leering eyes off her. [75,000 - 80,000 words] [cover by soulanatomy]